Story The future of India: The 2011 World Cup - Day 2: India vs Bermuda

[Hamish]

Hi guys, I'm finally starting another ICC 2006 story, after about a 2 year lay-off. You can find my old stories, Sri Lanka's road to 2009 and India's quest for glory.

This story will be following India's journey with its future stars from the World Cup jointly hosted by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, to the unforeseeable future. I hope you enjoy it, but first a brief history of the achievements and failures of Indian cricket since 2006.

The Rise of a Global Economy and Cricket Superpower

The World Cup of 2011 is fast approaching, a global showcase of cricket's best, fighting it out for the biggest reward in international cricket. Among these teams is India, who will have there eyes set firmly on lifting the trophy. But, how have India fared since they were in the same preparation stages before the World Cup of 2007 in the West Indies?

The story starts in the West Indies itself, where India embarked on a mission in 2006 to repair its overseas test record, winning emphatically by 3-0, the batting might of Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman coming up trumps against the resistance offered only by Chris Gayle, Chaderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan. The move by selectors to implement a young ODI side devoid of Dravid and Ganguly reaped the rewards of a 3-1 win against WI, under some wonderful performances by Sehwag, Gambhir, Raini, Pathan and Zaheer Khan.

Srutiny followed when the test team suffered an embarrassing 0-1 test series loss in Bangladesh, and left South Africa with a result of 0-0 on featherbed pitches. There was some consolation with a test series win in New Zealand, and India managed to claim each ODI series along the above mentioned tours with its youthful ODI team.

India then announced its superiority, cementing its no. 1 position in the Super 8s of the World Cup, only to scrape through against Pakistan in the semi-final and Australia in the final, thanks to a collective failure in the batting. This however sweetened India's first World Cup win since 1983.

Along the next 3 years, India strengthened both its Test and ODI records, including a historic 2-1 test series wins against Australia, both home and away, and finally setting the test record straight in South Africa, as well as claiming the no. 1 spot over Australia in ODIs in 2010, and the no. 2 spot in Tests. Players increased their reputations, such as Sehwag making an India record of 348, and Tendulkar becoming the highest Test run scorer. This has occurred amongst the retirments of Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and Laxman in 2009.

Blips over this period include the 1-1 drawn test series in England in 2007, the failure to make the final of the 2007-08 Commonwealth bank Series in Australia, and the inability to fathom the Pakistani test pace attack. This has resulted in a 1-2 loss against the Pakistanis in India in 2009, and 0-3 whitewashing in Pakistan just recently in 2010-11.

However, India now look away from the 0-3 test drubbing to the following ODI series in Pakistan, as preparation for the upcoming World Cup campaign.

Next Series: Hero Honda Pakistan-India ODI Series

Then: World Cup 2011 in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh

 

[Amiya]

Great start mate... Keep up the good work...

 

[Hamish]

Squad for Hero Honda Pakistan-India ODI Series

India have announced an identical ODI squad to that in the tests for the 3-match series in Pakistan. Skipper MS Dhoni remained upbeat ahead of the series despite the confidence crushing 0-3 test series loss.

"The test matches were a big disappointment, but the World Cup is not far away, and we have our eyes on that. We'll be playing hard during this series to prepare for the road ahead."

A tough contest is expected between India, the top ranked side, and Pakistan, ranked no. 6. India will be looking to blood its new batsmen, the Wassan brothers plus Nilesh Pandey, as well as rotate its bowling options.

India ODI Squad (18): MS Dhoni (c)(wk), Virender Sehwag (vc), Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Dilawar Wassan, Rafique Wassan, Shikhar Dhawan, Nilesh Pandey, Joginder Sharma, VRV Singh, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Pragyan Ojha, Munaf Patel, Piyush Chawla

1st ODI - Pakistan vs India - 28 Jan 2011

2nd ODI - Pakistan vs India - 30 Jan 2011

3rd ODI - Pakistan vs India - 31 Jan 2011

 

[bladescape]

Interesting squad!
I'll bet anything that Ind win the first and third!
Pak to win second!

 

[Hamish]

1st ODI: Pakistan vs India: 1st Innings

Welcome to Rawalpindi for the 1st ODI between Pakistan and India in this 3-match series. Both teams will be looking to get some much needed momentum before the World Cup campaign. It looks a good pitch, but is expected to dust up for the spinners as the match progresses.

Pakistan: 1. D Mehdi 2. Taufeeq Umar 3. Younis Khan 4. Hasan Raza 5. Salman Butt (c) 6. Kamran Akmal (wk) 7. Shahid Afridi 8. Y Arafat 9. Y Arafat 10. Danish Kaneria 11. Mohammad Asif

India: 1. Virender Sehwag 2. Sachin Tendulkar 3. Gautam Gambhir 4. Suresh Raina 5. Yuvraj Singh 6. MS Dhoni (c)(wk) 7. Irfan Pathan 8. VRV Singh 9. Harbhajan Singh 10. Zaheer Khan 11. Pragyan Ojha

Pakistan's Salman Butt has won the toss and elected to bat...

Taufeeq Umar ton helps Pakistan set India 326 to win...

Pakistan openers Mehdi and Umar got off to a slow and steady start, before Zaheer had Mehdi (18) edging to Sehwag at 1st slip, putting Pakistan at 47/1. However, Umar and Younis Khan lead the recovery with aggressive intent, putting on a 98 run partnership, before Harbhajan trapped Younis lbw, after he made 58 off 57 balls. Taufeeq Umar (126) powered on, with contributions form Raza (21), Butt (45 no off 32 balls), before skying a catch straight to Ojha off Zaheer's bowling. Akmal (34 off 18) and Afridi (15no off 6) leaked runs off VRV Singh (1/77), Pathan (0/67) and Ojha (1/67), as Pakistan posted a very formidable 325/5 off 50 overs.

India's bowlers let them down with an ill-disciplined performance, and now the batsmen have their work cut out. Join us for the 2nd innings.

Next: India's Innings

Image: Salman Butt played a delightful and quick-fire knock to help put Pakistan on top in the 1st ODI

 

[Hamish]

1st ODI: Pakistan vs India: 2nd Innings

Welcome back to Rawalpindi for the 2nd Innings of this 1st One Day International, where India have a target of 326 to chase. India have the batting power to chase such a total, but Pakistan also have the bowling talent to halt any such attempt. Let's join the action...

India fall short despite spirited chase...

Pakistan dealt an early blow when opening bowler Yasir Arafat got through the defenses of Tendulkar to bowl him for a meagre 8. The aging superstar has continued to perform consistently over the years, but this was not the preparation he needed for the World Cup. Virender Sehwag (28) was sluggish, unable to find the gaps, before pacer Asif snuck the ball past a booming drive to bowl him. Gambhir (38 off 44 balls) looked good, before he was bowled Kaneria, leaving India in trouble at 77/3.

With the required run-rate rising past 7.5, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh combined to form an explosive partnership of 165 for the 4th wicket. Raina blasted 78 runs off 65 balls before being bowled by pacer Yaseer Arafat, while Yuvraj Singh crashed 15 fours in an innings of 96 off 77 balls, before edging a cut shot off leg-spinner Kaneria to keeper Kamran Akmal.

India were left needing around 70 runs off 6 overs, but Dhoni (26 off 31) and Pathan (23 off 28) could not force the issue, with India ending on 299/5 off 50 overs, Pakistan winning by 26 runs.

Taufeeq Umar was declared man of the match for his 126.

Pakistan now lead the 3-match ODI series 1-0.

Image: Yuvraj Singh's explosive 96 was not enough as India found the required run-rate too much...

 

[bladescape]

26 runs loss!
Okay change my bet,India to win the next two!

 

[navin-boss]

Thats quick update mate.Very sad to see India losing the first match.Yuvraj singh's 96 gone useless..Nice update mate.Best of luck wid this story!

 

[Hamish]

26 runs loss!
Okay change my bet,India to win the next two!

I hope they do!

Thats quick update mate.Very sad to see India losing the first match.Yuvraj singh's 96 gone useless..Nice update mate.Best of luck wid this story!

Thanks mate!

2nd ODI: Pakistan vs India: 1st Innings

Greetings from Lahore for the 2nd ODI of this 3-match series, which Pakistan currently lead 1-0. It's a slightly cloudy day, and the pitch looks a bit uneven, which will be tough to bat on in the 2nd innings.

India has made some bold changes, looking to rotate players ahead of the World Cup, despite being down 0-1. The uncapped Wassan brothers replace Tendulkar and Yuvraj, while paceman Munaf Patel, legspinner Piyush Chawla and allrounder Joginder replace Pathan, VRV Singh and Pragyan Ojha. Pakistan has made no changes.

Pakistan: 1. D Mehdi 2. Taufeeq Umar 3. Younis Khan 4. Hasan Raza 5. Salman Butt (c) 6. Kamran Akmal (wk) 7. Shahid Afridi 8. Y Arafat 9. Y Arafat 10. Danish Kaneria 11. Mohammad Asif

India: 1. Virender Sehwag 2. Gautam Gambhir 3. Dilawar Wassan 4. Suresh Raina 5. Rafique Wassan 6. MS Dhoni (c)(wk) 7. Joginder Sharma 8. Piyush Chawla 9. Harbhajan Singh 10. Munaf Patel 11. Zaheer Khan

Salman Butt has won a crucial toss and elected to bat.

Umar and Raza combine to put Pakistan on top...

Pakistan looked to have gotten towards a good start, before Munaf Patel beat D Mehdi (20) for pace, sending his offstump cartwheeling, with Pakistan losing their 1st wicket on 37. Umar and Younis Khan put on a steady recovery, the partnership ending on 49, when Joginder Sharma uprooted Younis Khan's offstump (29).

Taufeeq Umar occupied the crease as Hasan Raza put on quick runs, resulting in a wonderful 124 run partnership for the 3rd wicket, before Piyush Chawla (1/66) has Raza (63 off 62 balls) lbw to a googly. Umar (97 off 118) crept up close to 100, before Zaheer bowled him through the gate, Pakistan still steady on 221/4 off 40 overs.

Munaf Patel took the quick wickets of Butt (16), Akmal (23) and Y Arafat (2), and Zaheer dismissed Afridi (7), however Pakistan still managed to post a solid 289/8.

The Indian bowlers have once again failed to stem the flow of runs, and 290 looks an extremely difficult task, considering the uneven pitch and the relative weakness in the batting lineup that India have chosen for this match.

Next: India begin their chase of 290

Image: Munaf Patel's 4/48 couldn't prevent Umar and Pakistan coming out on top with a score of 289/8

 

[bladescape]

A win here,hopefully!

 

[Hamish]

2nd ODI: Pakistan vs India: 2nd Innings

Welcome to Lahore where India are required to chase down 290 to keep this 3-match ODI series alive. A rather difficult task ahead, lets rejoin the action...

Afridi bowls Pakistan to tight victory despite Dilawar ton...

India were given a rude shock when Virender Sehwag, their most destructive batsman, was bowled by Yaseer Arafat for 12, missing a flick shot on middle and leg. This brought debutant Dilawar Wassan to the crease in a pressure cooker situation, however Wassan fought off the nerves to play a gritty knock. Gautam Gambhir played the leading role in a partnership with D Wassan, putting on 89 runs for the 2nd wicket.

Gautam Gambhir (66 off 67 balls) looked in fine touch, with brilliant footwork, and some wonderful drive, before nicking a paddle sweep off Kaneria into Akmal's gloves. While Dilawar Wassan continued on, Raina fell early, bowled by Shahid Afridi for just 2. Rafique Wassan was given lbw for a duck, trying to sweep Afridi 3 balls later, India in trouble at 126/4.

As the required run rate rose to 7, Dilawar Wassan passed his 50, while Dhoni (27 off 30) tried to increase the scoring rate. All rounder Joginder Sharma (18) failed to give enough support, as D Wassan passed his maiden ODI century.

D Wassan (119 off 117) eventually perished to a spectacular catch by Kamran Akmal off Afridi, as Afridi cleaned up the tail, India collapsing to 269 allout off 47 overs. Pakistan won the 2nd ODI by 20 runs.

Shahid Afridi was announced man of the match for his best bowling figures of 7/45.

Pakistan has sealed the series, 2-0, in the 3-match ODI series, but India has to be given credit for coming close in chasing on both occasions on rapidly detiorating pitches.

Image: Shahid Afridi rattled the rest of the Indian batting order while Dilawar Wassan fought hard to save the match...

 

[bladescape]

Darn that annoying Afridi!:

 

[Hamish]

3rd ODI: Pakistan vs India: 1st Innings

Welcome to Karachi, the scene for the final ODI of this Hero Honda Pakistan-India ODI series. Pakistan may have sealed with a 2-0 scoreline, but this final ODI can hardly be called a dead rubber, when both teams are trying to gain as much momentum before the World Cup.

The pitch looks to be good for batting, but is expect to aid the spinners as well. The weather looks very overcast today, which will encourage the pacers.

India has brought back Tendulkar, Yuvraj, and Pathan in place of Joginder Sharma, Rafique Wassa and Piyush Chawla. This means their 5th bowler will have to be a part timer. Pakistan continues with its winning combination.

Pakistan: 1. D Mehdi 2. Taufeeq Umar 3. Younis Khan 4. Hasan Raza 5. Salman Butt (c) 6. Kamran Akmal (wk) 7. Shahid Afridi 8. Y Arafat 9. Y Arafat 10. Danish Kaneria 11. Mohammad Asif

India: 1. Virender Sehwag 2. Sachin Tendulkar 3. Gautam Gambhir 4. Suresh Raina 5. Yuvraj Singh 6. Dilawar Wassan 7. MS Dhoni (c)(wk) 8. Irfan Pathan 9. Harbhajan Singh 10. Munaf Patel 11. Zaheer Khan

Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat...

Sehwag century helps India post competitive total...

India found it difficult to get going against the prodigious swing bowling from the opening bowlers, and Pakistan were rewarded when Yaseer Arafat bowled Tendulkar for just 8. Gambhir joined Sehwag, making a run-a-ball 23 in a 42 run partnership, before skying a Yaseer Arafat delivery to Asif at long-off. The other Arafat, Yasir, had Raina edging to Taufeeq Umar at 1st slip for just 1.

Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh (35) recovered India strongly from 64/3 with an 85 run partnership, however Sehwag soon reached his century off just 97 balls. Sehwag hit four consecutive 4s off an Afridi over, before Afridi bowled Sehwag for a fantastic innings of 118 off 108 balls, putting India at 200/5. Dhoni failed (1), however Dilawar Wassan (48no off 58), Pathan (18) and Harbhajan (17no) pushed India to a good total of 274/7.

A good batting performance lead by Sehwag in overcast conditions, India will be hoping the bowlers get their act together and help India find its winning ways before the World Cup. However, with form of the Pakistani batsmen, defending will be tough

Next: Pakistan require 275 to win 3-0

Image: Sehwag finally found form ahead of the World Cup campaign with a fantastic knock of 118...

 

[Amiya]

That's a good total by india...

 

[Hamish]

3rd ODI: Pakistan vs India: 2nd Innings

Welcome back to Karachi where India have set Pakistan a target of 275 to win. If Pakistan succeed, they will complete a 3-0 whitewash. Let's join the action...

Mehdi and Co. easily overhaul target and claim whitewash...

Pakistan got off to a solid start in the chase of 275 runs, with openers D Mehdi and Taufeeq Umar forming a 57 run partnership off 10.3 overs, before Pathan forced a nick off dangerman Umar (30) to Sehwag with a beautiful outswinger.

India however had troubles with their 5th bowling option, Sehwag leaking 36 runs off 4 overs, as Raza raced to 91 before being caught and bowled by Irfan Pathan. Pathan (4/48) was the only bright light in yet another mediocre performance by the rest of the bowling attack, as Younis Khan (40) and Raza (20) supported the chase. Salman Butt fell for 2, but Kamran Akmal (36no) and Shahid Afridi (49no), with Pakistan reaching 276/5 in 47.3 overs, winning easily by 5 wickets.

Virender Sehwag was given Man of the Match for his ton in a losing cause. Taufeeq Umar was given Man of the Series for his 253 runs in 3 matches, including one century, at an average of 84.33.

Pakistan completed their whitewash, winning the Hero Honda Pakistan-India ODI Series 3-0!

Images: Irfan Pathan was the only bowler to trouble the Pakistani batsmen, and the Pakistani team celebrate a well deserved victory over the no. 1 ODI team ahead of the World Cup...

Next: India prepare for the 2011 World Cup and reactions to the Indian tour of Pakistan